
The Good Soldier Švejk
Seen it?1957 | 108 min | Comedy, War
Why it’s a Monday Morning Maybe
With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone interested in what war does to people and readers who like to compare the book and the screen version. It puts you in the middle of the fighting, and doesn't let you forget the cost. Sits nicely alongside Catch-22 or Kelly's Heroes. Adapted from a book, so readers can compare notes.
- The mood
- Light and funny, intense.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 48 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in another language, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1957: an older pace and style.
- Not the pick if you want something heavy or meaningful.
Good-natured and garrulous, Schweik becomes the Austrian army's most loyal Czech soldier when he is called up on the outbreak of World War I -- although his bumbling attempts to get to the front serve only to prevent him from reaching it. Playing cards and getting drunk, he uses all his cunning and genial subterfuge to deal with the police, clergy, and officers who chivy him toward battle.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 5K people sought it out in the past year
More like this
Shoulder ArmsWeeknight WatchAnother war comedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Catch-22Saturday SpecialAnother war story, and a Saturday Special.
Kelly's HeroesSaturday SpecialAnother war comedy, and a Saturday Special.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombFriday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed comedy.
Hot Shots! Part DeuxSunday Safe BetAnother comedy, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Karel Steklý
- Rudolf HrušínskýJosef Švejk
- Eva SvobodováMüllerová
- Josef HlinomazPalivec
- František Filipovskýagent Bretschneider
- Miloš Kopeckýfeldkurát Katz
- Svatopluk Benešnadporučík Lukáš
- Božena HavlíčkováKaty Wendlerová
- Felix le Breuxpolicejní rada
- Libuše Bokrovábaronka von Botzenheimová
- Olga Karásková